William Hall (VC)

William Nelson Edward Hall was the first Black person, first Nova Scotian, and the third Canadian to receive the Victoria Cross due to his actions in the 1857 Siege of Lucknow. He received the medal for his actions during the Indian Rebellion. During the action in which the naval gun crew with which he was serving came under heavy fire as they attacked a mosque. Hall and an officer from his ship continued to load and fire a 24-pounder gun at the walls of the Shah Nujeef mosque after the rest of the party had been killed or injured by the local resistance hoping to secure the restoration of Mughal suzerainty.

28 April 1827

Born on the same birth day (28 April): AD 32 • Bill Blackbeard • Brian Greenhoff • Chris Kaman • Chris White (politician) • Dominic Matteo • Edward IV • Elena Kagan • Harper Lee • Ian Rankin • James Baker • Joris Jansen Rapelje • Nikki Grahame • Pedro Ramos • Penélope Cruz • Richard Fromberg • Roger Johnson (footballer) • Roman Polák • Song Yuvin • Steve Rider • Tobias Asser • Tom Browning • William Guarnere

Born in the same month (April 1827): Augustus Pitt Rivers • Joseph Lister • Jyotirao Phule • Lew Wallace • Octave Crémazie • Ramón Emeterio Betances • William Holman Hunt